Prescot’s Imaginarium Theatre are delighted to be working in partnership with professional Storyteller Gav Cross to bring his famous cousin; Father Christmas (yes, the REAL one) to the Imaginarium Roundhouse for this festive season.
The very special storytelling event for children (and adults) of all ages, will take place every Saturday and Sunday from 13th November until Christmas Eve.
The Imaginarium Roundhouse is the community arts organisation’s stunning big top venue in the heart of Prescot’s historic town centre and directly facing the new Shakespeare North Playhouse. The big top venue opened this spring and is being given an exciting all-weather upgrade by St Helens designers and carpenters Retro Chimps Ltd (recently seen on C4 with Johnny Vegas and Carry On Glamping).
The new Roundhouse will retain its big top roof as it transforms into an all-weather heated, fairy lit, winter wonderland Christmas cabin (with wooden sides and floor) that will host Father Christmas and his elves, and eager audiences of children and families coming to listen to magical stories and silly festive jokes.
Tickets are available from the Imaginarium Theatre website www.imaginariumtheatre.co.uk and can be purchased at the price of £10 per person or at £15 each to include a bowl of scouse and bread, freshly homemade at the adjacent Imaginarium Bistro. Discounted November preview tickets are on sale for just £5! Each storytelling session will last approximately one hour, including time for visitors to meet and take a photo with Father Christmas. There will also be candy floss, popcorn, hot food and drinks available to purchase.
Gav Cross has been performing stories for many years in schools, theatre and community venues and has helped bring Father Christmas to life for countless children. Last year, after a message of support from Father Christmas went viral worldwide at the start of the pandemic, Gav offered a ‘pay what you can afford’ video message to children of all ages, to help support families through an extremely difficult Christmas.
These videos brought much needed joy and festive cheer and was offered in a way to be accessible by everyone regardless of their financial situation. This year Father Christmas is able to get out and about and bring his stories to families, live, loud and in person!
Gav Cross is very much looking forward to working with Imaginarium, following a table rousing performance in the Prescot Woodland Theatre this summer with ‘Twisted Tales for Terrible Children…’ And a Halloween performance in the Imaginarium Roundhouse from the ‘Tell Tale Twit!’
“It is wonderful to be working with Imaginarium, as a storyteller I get the delight of performing for an audience but I’m often on my own, very rarely working in partnership with other performers or creatives. To work with Imaginarium is absolutely my privilege, as they truly are an established powerhouse of storytelling! They have nurtured a fantastic audience who know the value of a good story well told and I’m hoping that I can bring more of those to Prescot with Imaginarium.”
“Audiences can expect to meet and laugh along with a very silly Father Christmas that loves to giggle and share stories old and new, swap Cracker jokes, so bring plenty, and then a chance to say hello after and take your own picture with him. He has a very busy schedule but always find time for the people of Prescot & Merseyside and Imaginarium!”
Father Christmas Storytime is also touring primary schools across the city region from 16th November – 17th December. For more information or to book sessions for your school go to www.imaginariumtheatre.co.uk or email tish@imaginariumtheatre.co.uk
